Henry Single Shot
The Henry Single Shot is a break-action, exposed-hammer single shot rifle and shotgun available in the broadest caliber range of any break-action firearm in production—from .22 LR and .22 Hornet through .308 Winchester, .45-70 Government, and 12 or 20 gauge shotgun configurations. Built with an American walnut stock, blued steel barrel, and brass bead front sight, the Single Shot carries the same quality fit and finish as the rest of the Henry line with a manufacturing simplicity that makes it one of the most reliable and affordable centerfire rifles available. For youth hunters, new shooters, or anyone who wants a clean, simple, single-purpose firearm, the Henry Single Shot delivers Henry’s quality at its most accessible price point.
Read our full Henry Single Shot Buying Guide ↓
The Case for a Single Shot in 2026
Single shot rifles are often dismissed as entry-level or youth firearms, but they serve specific purposes that repeating rifles don’t: they enforce shot discipline that makes hunters more careful and accurate, they are the simplest possible manual of arms for new shooters, they are mechanically the most reliable action type, and they are typically the most affordable way to get into a given caliber. For youth hunters, a single shot in .243 Winchester or .308 Winchester is the appropriate first deer rifle. For handloaders who shoot a wildcat cartridge in small quantities, a single shot is the only practical platform. The Henry Single Shot covers all of these use cases with Henry’s build quality.
Caliber Range: .22 LR to .45-70
The Henry Single Shot’s caliber range is exceptional for a break-action design—a testament to the strength of the receiver and the versatility of the action. The rimfire configurations (.22 LR, .22 Magnum, .17 HMR) provide inexpensive practice and small game hunting options. Centerfire rifle configurations span .223 Remington for varmints through .308 Winchester and .45-70 Government for large game. The shotgun configurations in 12 and 20 gauge add bird hunting capability. A hunter who owns one Henry Single Shot receiver can access most common North American game applications by selecting the appropriate caliber—though barrel swaps require a gunsmith rather than being user-interchangeable.
Youth and New Shooter Applications
The Henry Single Shot is one of the most recommended first firearms for youth hunters for several reasons. The break-action design makes it visually and mechanically obvious when the firearm is loaded or empty, building safe handling habits from the first range session. The single shot format prevents follow-up shots that can become a crutch, developing the careful, deliberate shooting that produces accurate hunters. The lightweight walnut stock is dimensionally appropriate for youth frames. And the wide caliber range means the same rifle can serve through multiple hunting seasons in different configurations as the young hunter grows and pursues different game.
Accuracy and Field Performance
Break-action single shots have an inherent accuracy advantage over bolt-action and lever-action designs in one specific area: barrel harmonics. With no magazine, no cycling mechanism, and a rigid barrel-to-receiver lockup, a quality single shot barrel vibrates more consistently from shot to shot. The Henry Single Shot’s brass bead sight is appropriate for field use at typical deer hunting distances of 50–100 yards. The receiver is drilled and tapped on most configurations for scope mounting if optics are preferred.
Related Pages
Browse the full Henry firearms lineup, see the lever-action family at the Henry Lever Action page, or explore all single shot rifles.